Imagebearer’s Weblog

At “Out Of The Box” We Love people because God first Loved Us

I spent better than an hour this morning with Charlie Rand, a member of our church. I learned a lot about Charlie, by the way he had come downtown to spend time in prayer with is at Out of The Box for the Youth in the surrounding communities.

Charlie talked about how he never met a person he didn’t love. He says he does that because God first loved him and he is following the Bible’s prescription. He is absolutely right, that is what the Bible teaches. Love because Christ first loves us! Charlie has a great love for everybody but he is especially drawn to teach and be with children and youth.

Then Charlie said this: This is what Out Of The Box is, the youth can come here and there are no strings attached. They are often stunned when they come and there is free pizza for 150 people, sodas, snacks, pool table, big screen and just plain fun. They are stunned because there is no hook in it. We make no apologizes that we are Christian and we are here because of Jesus Christ but we do not require that a person think and be just like us. Out of the Box is a place where a person can come to hang out with Friends and learn about Jesus in the process.

There are no strings attached at Out Of The Box. We love youth because God first loved us!

Welcome

Ronnie

June 2, 2009 Posted by imagebearer | Out Of The Box, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

Out Of The Box Hosts Men’s Bible Study

We are hosting United Methodist Men@ Out of the Box for their bi-weekly Bible Study and this morning was again a great time of learning, reflection and fellowship. With all of that, my favorite is the conversation after the Bible Study. There always seems to be a point where God speaks to people and we start relating our thoughts and meditations and find that God was speaking to more than one of us about the same ideas. I don’t believe this is a coincidence!

In the Bible Study the Men are using Ray Vanderlaan and “Faith Lessons.” These are teaching videos filmed on location throughout Israel.

You can check these videos out as well as Ray’s site: “Follow The Rabbi” @ http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1458

We looked today at the Firstfruits. The firstfruits are what we give back to the Lord in essence saying here they are, we are dependant on you now for what we need to live.

I am going back today to write my tithe check from my paycheck yesterday. It is always good even for a preacher to have a reminder.

However the greatest thing that I received this morning is this question. The people marched around the City in SILENCE (you know when a person uses all caps it is yelling in computer language) and on the final time around the people blew the Shofar and shouted and the walls fell to the ground. Here is the question.

Why aren’t things like that still happening today?

Here is the reference: Joshua 6: 1-16 NIV

¹ Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

² Then the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. ³ March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. ⁴ Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. ⁵ When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in.”

⁶ So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the LORD and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.” ⁷ And he ordered the people, “Advance! March around the city, with the armed guard going ahead of the ark of the LORD.”

⁸ When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the LORD went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the LORD’s covenant followed them. ⁹ The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. ¹⁰ But Joshua had commanded the people, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!” ¹¹ So he had the ark of the LORD carried around the city, circling it once. Then the people returned to camp and spent the night there.

¹² Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. ¹³ The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the LORD and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets kept sounding. ¹⁴ So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

¹⁵ On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. ¹⁶ The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city!

Here is an answer that came to me.

Silence

I am tempted after typing silence to just stop and do nothing else but I feel that I need to explain this. We live in a time of noise. It is difficult to find a quiet place anymore. There is always background noise. There never seems to be time to just be still and know that He is God, to listen for His voice. Maybe Joshua told them to be quiet and not raise a voice because he wanted the people to listen to what God was saying in His still small voice.

Maybe God wants to speak to us today. I spend most of my time in the vehicle in silence. many times when I run it is by myself and that is a time when I hear God speak. Many times it is when I am in the shower and there is no background noise. Lets be intentional in silence, God still speaks today.

Let me know what you hear.

Ronnie

June 2, 2009 Posted by imagebearer | Out Of The Box, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

You’re the God of this City

SouledOut has recently started singing this song by Chris Tomlin. I believe it is prophetic of Out Of The Box and the work of FUMC Hillsville.

Joshua 1: 7-9

⁷ Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

I have told God that I will go into this City and lift up Jesus Christ in order to win the lost.

Ronnie

June 2, 2009 Posted by imagebearer | Out Of The Box, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Out Of The Box: Ministry With Youth, To Youth, & For Youth

What follows is the story of the First United Methodist Hillsville Youth Group. Their mission trip to Macon Georgia. The vision of a storefront Youth Ministry Site in order to take the church to the people and the results.

Ronnie

We have been open for about 6 months now and hundreds of people have come through the doors at Out Of The Box. There have been events with 150 people in attendance and Safe Halloween brought several hundred through our doors in one afternoon. Youth are finding a place where they love coming and many adults are getting acquainted with the main church through OOTB.

June 2, 2009 Posted by imagebearer | Out Of The Box, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment